Massa Alleges Fraud in $40K Payment

Former congressman Eric Massa says he didn't authorize a $40,000 check his campaign wrote to his chief of staff shortly before the New York lawmaker resigned last month.

In a statement released Saturday by his attorney on the campaign's behalf, the New York Democrat said the check to Joe Racalto was "based solely on misrepresentations" by Racalto to campaign officials.

Racalto is among those pursuing sexual harassment complaints against Massa.

Racalto's lawyer, Camilla McKinney, said Friday the check was a "deferred payment" for Racalto's work this year and last on the congressman's 2010 re-election campaign and for work on Massa's 2008 transition.

The payment to Racalto came as allegations about his boss sexually harassing young male staffers in his office were becoming public.